A Missouri employment contract establishes the terms and conditions of employment. It outlines elements such as the job responsibilities, period of employment, salary the employer will pay the employee, and any other clauses like a confidentiality clause.
Missouri contracts, including employment contracts, follow common law for the elements they must abide by to be legally enforceable. There must be an offer to enter into the contract, an acceptance by both parties, and an exchange of consideration. All assignments of salaries in Missouri must be in writing [1] .
- Laws: Title XVIII
- Definition of Employee: § 285.525(3) An employee is any person performing work or service of any kind or character for hire within Missouri.
By Type (4)
Independent Contractor Agreement
Outlines the relationship between a contractor and a client.
Subcontractor Agreement
Outlines the terms between a general contractor and a subcontractor.
Employee Non-Compete Agreement
Protects the company's sensitive information when an employee leaves.
Employee Non-Disclosure Agreement
Protects confidential business strategies and plans.
Hiring in Missouri
If you’re hiring employees in Missouri, there are several state labor laws and regulations that you need to be aware of:
At-Will Employment
Missouri is an at-will employment state. An employer can terminate an employee’s position without a reason within legal limitations.
Exceptions
- Public Policy: Yes
- Implied Contract: No
- Good-Faith Exception: No
Minimum Wage ($/hr)
The minimum wage in Missouri is $12/hour. Employers of a retail or service business with gross annual sales of less than $500,000 are exempt from paying the minimum wage [2] .
Child Labor
Missouri’s Child Labor Laws (Title XVIII Chapter 294) apply to children under the age of 16. Note that any child under the age of 14 isn’t allowed to work unless they’re working a casual job or working in the entertainment or agricultural industries.
For minors under 16, employment certificates are required in Missouri [3] .
Payday
Missouri employers must pay employees at least semi-monthly, via a regular payday.
Meals and Rest Breaks
Missouri does not require minimum paid breaks or meal periods. Employers also do not need to give a break of any kind, including a lunch hour, to minors under the age of 16.
Minors in the entertainment industry, however, cannot work over five and a half hours without a meal break. A 15-minute paid rest period is required after two hours of continuous work [4] .
Recordkeeping Requirements
An employer must keep a record of each employee’s name, address, job description, pay rate, and hours worked for at least three years (§ 290.520). Some other recordkeeping requirements include:
- Unemployment Insurance: 3 years
- Safety and Health/Workers’ Compensation: 5 years
- Child labor: 2 years
Sample
Below, you can download a Missouri employment contract template in PDF or Word format:
